Photo mount



L. GROSS PHOTO MOUNT Oct. 24, 1939.

Filed June 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1011/15 Gross L. GROSS PHOTO MOUNT Oct. ?4, 1939.

Filed June 2'7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I. IE-

grwvwto'a 11s Grass Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFiCE PHOTO MOUNT Application June 2'7, 1939, Serial No. 281,399

2 Claims.

This invention relates to photo mounts, and more particularly to those of the type employing a transparent protecting member, such for instance as a glass plate, in front of the picture.

In such mounts, it is customary to provide an underlay having a window opening therethrough for receiving the photograph and protecting transparent plate, such underlay including a coarse paper stock middle or body and a wrapping of facing paper, or the like, extending around the edges of the body member and lapping the front and rear sides thereof. This wrapping material is pasted to the body and is intended to provide a finished edge therefor. Its use is objectionable, however, as the underbalanced distribution of paste in securing it to the body member causes warping of the underlay. Furthermore, the wrapping of the body member edges, particularly at the corners and at curved points, necessarily causes more or less wrinkling of the Wrapping material, which is objectionable from an appearance standpoint.

The primary object of the invention is to so make .photo mounts of this character as to not 25 only eliminate the wrapping material for the underlay, and the objections incident to its use, but also to enhance the appearance and salability thereof and to produce such a mount in a less expensive manner by eliminating some of the steps of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mount of this character having a novel assemblage of parts, whereby to enhance the practicability and commercial value thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provisioh of a simple and novel form of brace or tie member for the -easel leg or standard, whereby the latter is firmly held in set-up position and capable of being easily and quickly released for folding flat against the mount.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding the print and glass in the mount opening in a manner which materially adds to the appearance and salability of the 45 mount, and obviates the use of the customary turn-buttons on the mount back, and which also prevents substitution of photographs in a mount Without mutilation of the latter, thereby giving assurance that the photograph originally put out with the mount will remain therein. This prevents the substitution of an inferior picture for the one contained in the mount to the possible jeopardy of reputation of the artist, particularly when his imprint appears on the mount.

55 The invention is fully described in the following specification, and one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which-=- Figure l is a front view of a mount embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof in set- 3 up position; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the mount taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 and in set-up position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 44 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section at an edge portion 1' of the mount; Fig. 6 is a set-up edge view of the mount; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the easel member of the mount; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the backing sheet; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the underlay member; Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the insert or facing member of the mount, and Fig. 11 is a back perspective view of the mount, with the easel member in supporting position.

A photo mount embodying the invention includes an underlay or body board I (Fig. 9) of stiff hard pressed plastic material, such as hard pressed paper board, having an opening 2 therein forming a window for receiving a print or photograph 3 (Fig. 3) and a protecting transparent plate 4 of glass, or other suitable material (Fig. 3). The thickness of the underlay l is substantially that of the members 3, 4.

Fixed to the rear side of the underlay l and preferably coextensive in size therewith is a backing sheet 5 (Fig. 8) preferably of stiff cardboard-like material, having a panel 6 at least partially severed therefrom and covering as well as forming a closure for the rear of the underlay opening 2. In the present instance, the closure panel '6 is severed from the sheet 5 at all except its top edge, thus forming a hinge connection 1 at such edge with the sheet to permit the panel to be raised when placing the members 3 and 4 in the underlay opening. For the purpose of 40 securing the panel 6 in closed relation to the parts I and 5, its side and bottom edges, in the present instance, are cut to form outwardly projecting tabs or ears 8 which overlap the inner rear marginal edge portions of the underlay l and are firmly fixed thereto in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive material.

To the front of the underlay i is secured the customary insert or face member [0 (Fig. 10) by glue, or other suitable adhesive. This member is usually decorated to give the mount a pleasing and attractive design and is preferably of the same external shape as the underlay but slightly smaller, so that a front marginal edge portion of the underlay is left exposed as shown at H in Fig. l. A window opening I2 is provided in the insert ID in register with and slightly smaller than the underlay opening 2 to provide the latter with an inwardly projecting front'edge flange entirely therearound to serve as a front stop for the picture and glass disposed in the opening 2 and as a border of desired shape for the picture, as is apparent.

When the underlay l and. back and face members 5 and I have been assembled with glue, or other suitable adhesive, between their coacting surfaces, they are subjected at their outer edges to pressure between dies or plates under heat which presses the material of the-insert I0 slightly into the underlay material at least at the outer edge of the former, as indicated in Fig. 5, to give it the appearance of being integral with the underlay and as embossed thereon. This also seals the edges of the insert ID to the underlay, so that warping caused by atmospheric changes is reduced to a minimum.

It is desirable, either in the underlay cutting operation or in the heat pressing assemblage treatment, and preferably in the latter, to finish the outer front edge of the underlay by rounding, as shown at l3 (Fig. 5). The hard pressed rounding of such edge combined with the pressing of the edge of the insert or front piece In into the surface of the underlay gives the marginal edge portion of the mount a very pleasing integral stepped appearance, which is not only novel but important from a commercial or sales standpoint.

By, making the underlay l of hard pressed plastic material, such as paper or fiber board, and giving its edge a finished appearance as described, the use of the customary wrapping strip for finishing the edge of an underlay and the objections incident to its use are obviated and a mount of improved appearance provided.

At the back of the mount is provided an easel member or leg I5, preferably of stiff paper or cardboard stock, and the upper end of this member is provided with a hinge extension l6 which is firmly secured to the back of the mount, in the present instance to the panel 6, by gluing, or in any other suitable manner. The leg I5 is slitted to form a lengthwise extending brace arm I! which is hingedly connected at its lower end to the leg l5 near its lower end and has its free end formed at each side edge with a laterally projecting ear l8 so that the arm at such end is of key or T-form. I

The underlay l is provided in its lower end portion below the opening 2 with a small opening 20 (Fig. 9), which is covered at the front by the insert l0 and at its rear is in register with a key or T-form of slot 2| in the back sheet 6. The

free end of the brace mm H is adapted to be inserted through the broad end of the slot 2| and then to have sliding interlocking engagement with the narrowed or restricted side wall portions thereof which overhang the respective side walls of the underlay opening 20. It is thus apparent that the free end of the brace arm I1 I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a photograph mount, an underlay of stiff material having an opening for receiving a picture and protecting plate, an insert mounted on the front of said underlay and having an opening in register with and smaller than said first opening to provide a marginal front edge flange around the first opening, and a back sheet of stiff paper stock secured to the back of the underlay and having a panel in register with said underlay opening and movable to permit insertion of a picture and protecting plate into said underlay opening, said panel having tabs projecting outwardly' from different edges thereof and lapping the underlay to permit sealing thereto by an adhesive.

2. In a photo mount, an underlay having a picture receiving opening therein and a small opening therebelow, an insert secured to the front of the underlay and closing the front of said small opening, a backing sheet secured to the back of the underlay and adapted to cover said first opening and having a key slot over the rear of said small opening, and an easel leg hingedly attached to and projecting downwardly from said back sheet above said slot and having a brace arm hingedly connected at one end thereto and adapted to lie fiat therewith or to be projected laterally therefrom toward the mount and having its outer end of key form for insertion into said small opening through the large end of said slot and to then have sliding interlocking engagement with the walls of the narrow portion of the slot.

LOUIS GROSS. 

